Massage furniture item and method of operation

Abstract

A furniture item includes two massage elements that are each operated to generate a vibration that can be transmitted into the furniture item, where the vibrations create a joint vibrational wave. The frequency of each vibration can be continuously varied within a predetermined frequency range. The shifting frequencies of the massage elements cause the peaks and troughs of the wave of the vibrational wave to move across the furniture element to create the sensation of a moving vibration for a user resting on the furniture item.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A furniture item for massaging a user resting on the furniture item, comprising:
 a first massage element mounted to the furniture item and further including a first eccentrically weighted rotary element, wherein the first rotary element is rotatable at a first rotational speed to create a first vibration in the first massage element and propagating into the furniture item;   a second massage element mounted to the furniture item and further including a second eccentrically weighted rotary element, wherein the second rotary element is rotatable at a second rotational speed to create a second vibration in the second massage element and propagating into the furniture item; and   one or more controllers operably connected to the first and second massage elements to control rotational speed of the first and second massage elements such that the first rotational speed is continuously varied through a first range of rotational speeds to vary the frequency of the first vibration propagating through the furniture item and the second rotational speed is continuously varied through a second range of rotational speeds to vary the frequency of the second vibration propagating through the furniture item.   
     
     
         2 . The furniture item of  claim 1 , wherein the first range of rotational speeds differs from the second range of rotational speeds. 
     
     
         3 . The furniture item of  claim 2 , wherein the first range of rotational speeds at least partially overlaps with the second range of rotational speeds. 
     
     
         4 . The furniture item of  claim 1 , wherein the first rotational speed is varied at a first cyclic rate, the second rotational speed is varied at a second cyclic rate, and the first cyclic rate differs from the second cyclic rate. 
     
     
         5 . The furniture item of  claim 4 , wherein the first cyclic rate is about 10 to 15 seconds per half period and the second cyclic rate is about 1 second per half period. 
     
     
         6 . The furniture item of  claim 4 , wherein the first cyclic rate is about 10 or more times greater than the second cyclic rate. 
     
     
         7 . The furniture item of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second first rotary elements pauses between cycles of rotational speeds. 
     
     
         8 . The furniture item of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more controllers is operable to individually adjust cyclic rate and rotational speed of at least one of the first and second massage elements to cause the first and second vibrations to create varying wave interference causing a sensation of a moving massage for users resting on the furniture item. 
     
     
         9 . The furniture item of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second massage elements are fixedly mounted to the furniture item. 
     
     
         10 . The furniture item of  claim 1 , wherein the furniture item comprises a massage bed having a mattress with the first and second massage elements mounted to the furniture item so as to cause the first and second vibrations to create varying wave interference causing a sensation of a moving massage for users resting on the mattress of the furniture item. 
     
     
         11 . A massage bed for massaging a user resting on the massage bed, comprising:
 an adjustable bed foundation having a head end and a foot end, the adjustable bed foundation supporting a mattress;   a head massage element mounted to the massage bed proximate the head end and further including an eccentrically weighted head rotary element, wherein the eccentrically weighted head rotary element is rotatable at a first rotational speed to create a first vibration in the head massage element and propagating into the bed foundation; and   a foot massage element mounted to the massage bed proximate the foot end and further including an eccentrically weighted foot rotary element, wherein the eccentrically weighted foot rotary element is rotatable at a second rotational speed to create a second vibration in the second massage element and propagating into the bed foundation; and   one or more controllers operably connected to the head and foot massage elements to control rotational speed of the head and foot massage elements such that the first rotational speed is continuously varied through a first range of rotational speeds to vary the frequency of the first vibration propagating through the bed foundation and the second rotational speed is continuously varied through a second range of rotational speeds to vary the frequency of the second vibration propagating through the bed foundation.   
     
     
         12 . The massage bed of  claim 11 , wherein the first range of rotational speeds differs from the second range of rotational speeds. 
     
     
         13 . The massage bed of  claim 12 , wherein the first range of rotational speeds at least partially overlaps with the second range of rotational speeds. 
     
     
         14 . The massage bed of  claim 11 , wherein the first rotational speed is varied at a first cyclic rate, the second rotational speed is varied at a second cyclic rate, and the first cyclic rate differs from the second cyclic rate. 
     
     
         15 . The massage bed of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the eccentrically weighted head rotary element and eccentrically weighted foot rotary element pauses between cycles of rotational speeds. 
     
     
         16 . The massage bed of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more controllers is operable to individually adjust cyclic rate and rotational speed of at least one of the head and foot massage elements to cause the first and second vibrations to create varying wave interference causing a sensation of a moving massage for users resting on the massage bed. 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing moving massage sensations for a user resting on a furniture item, comprising the steps of:
 rotating an eccentrically weighted first rotary element of a first massage element of the furniture item at a first rotational speed to create a first vibration in the first massage element that propagates into the furniture item;   rotating an eccentrically weighted second rotary element of a second massage element of the furniture item at a second rotational speed to create a second vibration in the second massage element that propagates into the furniture item; and   cycling the eccentrically weighted first rotary element through a first range of rotational speeds to vary the frequency of the first vibration.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , and further comprising:
 cycling the eccentrically weighted second rotary element through a second range of rotational speeds to vary the frequency of the second vibration.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second vibrations combine to create a joint vibration having peaks and furrows moving across a mattress of the furniture item. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , and further comprising:
 adjusting cyclic rate or rotational speed of at least one of the first and second massage elements to cause the first and second vibrations to create varying wave interference causing a sensation of a moving massage for users resting on a mattress of the furniture item.